The Universalist. [volume] (Chicago [Ill.]) 1884-1897, 1887-06-25

in the midst of our fellow men. To say
that we need not be to any pains to
promote universal prosperity, and the
peace and happiness of the world, but
may, If we please, live for ourselves
alone, and pamper our own wants, is
most evidently and lamentably to mis-
take Christianity, and the salvation it
aims to confer upon us. If the man
does not sacrifice, does not minister,
does not go out beyond self, evidently
he is not saved. No man is approved,
as ministered to, unless he ministers.
No man is in the way of salvation, un-
less he labors to save others. 1t is
Gods way for us to help ourselves, by
helping others. Men of present ease
and self-indulgence, cannot do the work
of Christianity, the work of upheaving
and advancing the world in true prog
ress and Christian reform, but men of
unreserved self denial, and self-sacri-
fee for righteousness sake. Not those
who must be ministered to, but those
who are willing to minister, and labor.
and suffer and die, (if need be), in the
cause of human amelioration, and for
the sake of human regeneration, re-
demption and salvation. The life in
us must get out, and impart itself to
others, or it ceases to be life. And so
this principle of self-sacrifice is vital.
Reject it, and all is lost. Compromise
it, and nothing great and good can be
achieved for man individually or So
cially. In vain is it, therefore, that we
affect to believe in the religion of
Christ, who receive not his self denying
doctrine. Think of elevating, and re-
forming, and blessing the world, and
advancing it in the way of true holi-
ness and love without thisl Can man
believe in Christianity who does not be-
lieve in itp Can he be Christian who
does not preach it?
Conservation of heart and life to the
high calling of God in Christ Jesus, is
what Christianity means, if it means
anything. And to follow Christ is to
follow him in this respect. Most surely
the Saviour's thought was never of
himself, or of his own personal prefer
ences, or ends, but always how to plant
his religion, the principles Of the gos-
pei in the hearts of men, and to bless
and save humanity. 1t is this that is
told us very plainly in the words, "That
he came not to be ministered unto, but
to minister, and to give his life q
ransom for many" the many, the whole
world of mankind. To minister means
to serve. And in the very act of be-
coming minister, person at all con-
scious of what he is doing, consecrates
himself to the divine service. The
true criterion of superiority among men,
is the value of the service which is
rendered. Christ, indeed, teaches a
new idea of greatness, greatness that
consists in serving, rather than in being
served. He informs US that men are
really great, and to be esteemed and
honored in proportion as they have done
good in lessening the ills, and multi
plying and diffusing the blessings of
life; and if we would be the disciples
of the Saviour, we must exhibit our
ambition to be great or chief among
our fellows, by being of service to them.
Jesus lays the greatest stress upon the
spirit of helpfulness and humanity.
The thing which was supreme in his
aim and acts, was to benefit mankind.
1t was service which he rendered, SER
vice of the highest, because of the
most essential and enduring kind.
When we come to comprehend the
full force of Christ's life, and labors,
and mission, we see that all bears upon
the very highest possible interests of
mankind, and that his glory and supre-
macy consist in the fact of giving him.
self to the world, "that we might have
life, and that we might have it more
abundantly." And should not the min
lister of the gospel understand and real
ize that he is deserving of praise, and is
laying others under obligation to him,
so far as he promulgates true idea of
life, an idea of life as it ought to be,
and as it was designed of God to be,
and is instrumental in the establish
ment Of practical goodness in all its
purity and excellence in the earth? 1t
is real service, repeat, that illustrates
true greatness. The soul that does
most for human welfare is chief among
men. This is just what is affirmed:
greatness in proportion to service. HE
that will be great, or chief among you,
let him be your servant" or minister,
to minister to your wants. Such an
one was Christ.
Think of that life of unwearied sac
rifice of the Saviour's, pressing along
the highways of Judea, to lift up the
fallen Of earth, and the unfortunate of
every cline; toiling in the midst of pri-
walton and suffering as blessed mar
tyr, day and night, upon the great OBJ
iect Of his mission, never swerving from
the divine purpose of his soul. And if
we have the same gospel of salvation,